Filling replenishing means for looms



Oct. 6, 1953 F. F. DONOGHUE ET AL 2,654,400

FILLING REPLENISHING MEANS FOR LOOMS Filed Aug. 18, 1950 4 ts-Sheet l .Z :9. 2 4 Q INVENTOR.

FLORENCE F. oowoeuuz KENNETH 5. SANDERSON y JOSEPH D.*;Pl6OTT 4 zmwk ATTORNEY Oct. 6,1953 F. F. DONOGHUE ET AL 5 FILLING REPLENISHING MEANS FOR LOOMS Filed Aug. 18, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FLORENCE EDONOGHUE KENNETH 5AN0ER50N BY JOSEPH D. PIGOTT -rrorz NEY Oct. 6, 1953 F. F. DONOGHUE ET AL 2,654,400

FILLING REPLENISHING MEANS FOR LOOMS Filed Aug. 18, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. FLORENCE E DONOGHUE KENNETH E. SANDEESON BY JOSEPH D. P/GOTT ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1953 Filed Aug. 18, 1950 F. F. DONOGHUE ET AL FILLING REPLENISHING MEANS FOR LOOMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FLORENCE F DONOGHUE KENNETH EJANDERSON BY JOSEPH D. PIGOTT' ATTOENE Y Patented Oct. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILLING REPLENISHING MEANS FOR LOOMS Application August 18, 1950, Serial No. 180,202

21 Claims. 1

This invention pertains to improvements in automatic replenishing means for looms, and more specifically, to improvements in that part of the said mechanisms which function incidental to transfer of the filling supply from the battery to a shuttle, to the shuttle feeler and also to an improved and novel means for operating a thread cutter simultaneously therewith.

It is a general object of the invention to improve and to simplify that part of an automatic replenishing means for looms which functions in response to an indication taken from a substantially depleted filling carrier to set the transfer cycle in operation, to render such mechanism more certain in its operation and to simplify the installation and adjustment thereof so that when once properly set up, the mechanism shall maintain its adjustment and shall operate satisfactorily over a relatively great period of time.

It is a more specific object of the invention todevise a filling transfer mechanism which shall operate in response to an electrical signal conveyed through a circuit in which a filling feeler is adapted to indicate substantial exhaustion of the filling then being woven, and in which the major portion of the device is mechanical in nature and, therefore, very little load imposed upon the electrical portion of the device.

It is a further object of the invention to so simplify that part of the filling transferring means and of the protection devices functioning incidental thereto, and to consolidate them at the replenishing end of the loom, that it becomes unnecessary to provide the usual mechanical means at the left hand end of the loom and along the front portion thereof as has heretofore been the practice.

It is a further object of the invention to do away with the usual cam and slot actuating means and its attendant slackness and lack of precision and to substitute therefor a linkage comprised practically entirely of levers and interconnecting links all of which provide for positive actuation of the various parts involved with maintenance of precise tolerances of adjustment.

It is a further object of the invention to devise a replenishing and protection means in which the movements of the transfer latch, cutter and clamp and of the shuttle feeler are definitely interrelated and in which the adjustment or setting of each relatively to the other is maintained through positively interconnected linkage.

A further object is that of providing for the above mentioned interrelated parts a spring toggle means for temporarily holding them in extreme positions and for assisting in the movement of the parts from one position to the other.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following more detailed disclosure.

According to the practice over a long period of time, automatic type looms or those which automatically replenish the supply of filling in the shuttle as the same becomes substantially depleted have been equipped with batteries containing a plurality of filling supplies which may be indexed or advanced in some satisfactory manner so that the supplies are successively transferred from the battery to the shuttle as the occasion requires. The condition of the filling has normally been sensed and indicated by a so-called filling feeler which has, in most instances, functionedthrough mechanical linkage to set in motion other mechanically functioning parts by which a transfer latch and other elements have been set to be actuated by a, bunter or other projection on the lay, so that the transfer cycle started as just above indicated, is completed upon the next forward movement of the lay. Briefly, the loom has means operable at that time to transfer the next succeeding filling supply to the shuttle and to eject the exhausted filling carrier, to interpose a shuttle feeler in the pathway of the shuttle, and to cause a cutter to part or sever the filling attached to the outgoing supply or carrier. While this mechanism has functioned more or less satisfactorily, all things considered, it has been desirable that it be simplified and that, if possible, the indication taken at one side of the loom by the filling feeler be transferred across to the replenishing side through an electric circuit thereby to make unnecessary all of the mechanical parts heretofore required for converting the movement of the filling feeler into a suitable mechanical impulse and carrying that impulse across the loom to set in operation the various instrumentalities to complete the cycle and which function at the opposite or replenishing side. It has also been desired to do away with certain cam means which have functioned at the replenishing side and which have been though to be more or less essential at least if suitable protection was to be provided, and with the slack movement resulting therefrom.

In carrying into effect the above mentioned objects and in obviating these and other difficulties, the impulse or indication derived from the filling feeler is transferred from that side of the loom across to the replenishing side through a circuit as hereinafter described in greater detail and functions through a solenoid or other similar electrical means to set or to change the r l ti Position of certain parts incidental to starting convenient manner.

the replenishing cycle. The specific details of and changes in the actual mechanism employed to transfer the fillingsupply set the shuttlefeeler and to -operaite th'e cutter, will betles'cribed in detail in a following portion "of 'the'spe'cificaticn.

The manner in which the shuttle feeler functions upon engaging an improperly placed shuttle to "revoke or to prevent completion of thereplenishing cycle will also be described by reference to the.

sleeve therefor, the latter of which also serves as a bearing for the transfer'haminer, the outside view thereof being illustrated in and 3. 2 1 Fig. 3 is a perspective view correspondingto Fig. lexcept that certain parts are shown intheir opposite position.

h1 4 is a detailed view "er the 'trafnsjfer' laftch and those parts incidental thereto by which it performs its required function. y

showing the "elec- Fig. 5 is a view fin'section Itrica'l1y'operate-d latch, shuttle feeler; cam "means for a'etuating the shuttle feeler and linkage from the shuttle feeler to'fa lever by which the 3 transfer latch and cutter are operated.

Iig. 6 is'a view correspondingto Fig.6 by

showing the 'parts in their opposite extreme position and also mustratmg 'a spring toggle'ifieans by which the shil'ttleffeeler is maintained in either extreme position andrwhich will "assist the feeler and attendant'parts to return 'to'their initial position after filling transfer or in the event the "feeler 'ccntactsannn rcp'eriy placed shuttle;

Fig. Tis an elevational view showingsome of the'parts of Fig. 6 asth'ey appearlooking from thefba'ck' toward the fr OIIt O f tne'machine.

v FigIS Iis apersp'ective view of the shuttle 'feeler alld itS operating (52m and'l'ever. I v

.Fig'. -9 is a diagrammatic view showing one eie'ctricai circuit which ma be "empmyed.

Now-referringt'o thefigure's or drawingeneugh fl'dffthe replenishingfmechanism has beenillus- Grated to show the appucaticn "of the "invention thereto. A hopper stand 10 'is"'r'nounted' in'the "usual way on one off the loomsides, "H "anfd while the remainder of "the battery itself Tis'not shown, 'it takes the usual form "and is, "therefore, well known to those skilled in the'art. 'This'hopper stand has a bearing boss 12 cast integrally or otherwise formed as a part thereof and this boss the outside of the sleeve I3 and this "arm and the hammer or bobbin-engagin'gpart or -parts 65 thereof take the usual 'form and therefore will not be described in greater detail here. 'Pro- 'jecting 'more or 'less downwardly from the 'hub 16 is a second arm 1! which is forked as "at l8 :to provide'a pivot 19 for a transfer latch later to be described in greater detail.

The/transfer hammer and the 'a'rm f8'are urged-in a counterclockwise direction looking v. from right. to left in Fig. 1,'bya coil'spring' 20 fixedly connected at one end to the hub I6 and at its opposite end to a spring collar 2| slotted for the reception of a spanner or other wrench and locked in position on the sleeve I3 or a reduced and thereof by a" set screw '22.; By ad- 5 iiustin'g'the position of the collar -2-l, the tension in the spring may be varied thereby to provide "suitable torque for returning the transfer mechanismto its-inactive position after the same 'has been moved throughout the transfer cycle 10 as will hereinafter be described.

illustrated Fig. 5, a lay structure including a jl'ay be'am 23 mounted in lay swords 24vser vesftheusual purpose of providing a supnearer-fine shuttle boxes and reed and a guide- .1 Wayfor the shuttle as it moves to and fro across the loom, these parts being more or less conventicnal and not shown in greater detail for that reason.

:In' operation, the transfer mechanism func- 0 tion's a's replenishment is initiated "through a 'fe'el'e'r mechanism-preferably located 'at the op- "posite side of the .loom'and of a known type, p'referably "one in which exhaustion or near-exhaustion of'the filling supply completes "an elec- 25 tr ical circuit which in turn conducts power to energize an electrical means adjacent the reiplenishing 'side'of the machine. 'As the circuit is completed, the lay structure is employed for the' purpose of :moving certain parts to anex- 0 treme position whereupon thetransfer-may and will be effected if the shuttle "is properly :boxed; otherwise the protecting rmechanisrn will revoke the transfer returning all parts'to their original or inactive positions. Y p Y The protecting function is afforded by ashuttlefeeler 'generally'indicated by numeral 25 and comprising an angularly' formed member with parallelglower arms 25' pivoted at26 toxsome suitable supporting structure preferably attached to the loomsi de'or-other fixed part of the framework of the loom. The feeler terminates at its upper end, in a nose portion 'or active shuttle feeling elementj'l. When in the; position of Fig. .6, this shuttle :feeler will be engaged by the shuttle in the event thatelement is so misplaced or so incompletely boxed at the replenishing end pf the loom that the transfer .of 'a filling supply could not be-effected without danger of undesirable:Engagement and possible destruciqn .th -P i V Theshuttle feeler .is maintained in'either of its extreme pOsit'ions that of Fig. 5 or that of -Figs. 6 and v8, by a spring, toggle mechanism -coinprisinga compression-spring 28 surrounding a plunger 29 one end of which is pivoted -at 38 a t to the shuttle feeler =2 5 and the other end of which projects throughan opening in asleevel ke ta ne 13. wh ch ha r u c m large to aeccrnmodate a; substantial part r the .springitself. This member- 3! is pivoted onjthe support 3,2 and is so positioned that when the shuttle'I'feler is in either extreme position, the Lltog'gle will have moved to ,one side or another 1 of a dead centerfposition and the} compression .in the sp inglz'sthe teedn es effective in holding ,the lshuttle feelelf and incidentally idth'er parts, that position until they have beenaffected by the settingmechanism, lay-transfer or by a misplaced (51111131519 FQ l erqce i nh tr n lat ;i;pi p s a .19. F 1 I and 3, serves the usual purppseor-aetuating the gt a r a m an hemmerwh nt ar r a yeiteri tr ns eres e n n a 5 tr ns r. latch o r se an ie ons td l t finger which is preferably adjustable within a.

. latch stand or holder 34 and is locked in position by lock nuts 35, one at either side of the stand 34. The stand 34 is so shaped as to provide an apertured pivot portion 36 through which pivot I9 is passed, also a downwardly projecting forked portion 31 to which is hinged an actuating arm 38, the latter being of angular form to extend back and downwardly to provide a second arm 39 to which is attached a spring 40 the opposite end of which is connected at 4! to a depending lug 42 at the rearmost end of the latch 33. That end of the latch is notched to be engaged by a hunter 43 attached to the lay structure, preferably to the beam or to the shuttle box at that end of the lay.

The arm 38 has a ledge 44, Fig. 4, which contacts against the lower side of the latch stand or holder 34. The spring 48 is under suflicient tension so that normally the latch finger 33 is maintained in such position relatively to the arm 38 that the ledge 44 is in actual contact with the lower surface of the stand 34 so that the finger and arm 38 normally tend to function as a unit. Downward pressure upon arm 38 tips the rearmost end of the finger 33 upwardly and the adjustment of parts is such that it stops in a position so that it will be engaged by the hunter 43 when the lay moves forwardly unless the transfer function is revoked as will hereinafter be explained.

The transfer latch mechanism is caused to function simultaneously with movement of the shuttle feeler by interconnecting mechanism which comprises a lever fixed to one end of a shaft 45 better shown in Fig. 2, and which is carried within bushings, one at either end of sleeve [3. This lever comprises a hub portion 46, Figs. 1, 3 and 6, fixed to the end of the shaft 45 by set screws or other suitable means and also two arms, one indicated by numeral 41 projecting rearwardly and the other 48 projecting forwardly and also outwardly toward the end of the loom. The first mentioned arm 47 is connected by an adjustable link 43 to a pivot 58 in a boss 5 I, Fig. 6, intermediate the ends of the shuttle feeler 25. Arm 48 connects by means of a link 52 to the forward end of arm 38, Fig. 1. This link 52 is forked at either end and is also adjustable, although it is to be understood that the actual form which the links 49 and 52 take may vary so long as they are suitably adapted to convey the movement of the shuttle feeler to the transfer latch mechanism, and vice versa.

fhe spring 40 functions in connection with the pivot between the stand 34 and arm 38 to permit a certain amount of articulation as is necessary when the transfer arm and hammer are actually moved to filling replenishing positions at which time the arm 48 moves upwardly along with a tendency for the latch finger 33 to move upwardly or at least, to remain at the elevation which it occupied when contacted by the hunter 43. Thus the movement of arm 48 moves lever 38 upwardly and the ledge or abutment 44 away from the lower surface of the stand 34 elongating spring 4| at that time.

For moving the shuttle feeler and the transfer latch to that extreme position which they occupy when transfer is about to be effected, a circuit is completed by a feeler 53, Fig. 9, and a solenoid 54 shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9 and also illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, is energized so that the plunger or armature 55 is pulled upwardly to swing a bell crank lever having an arm 55 connected to armature 55 and a depending arm 51 atria in a direction to affect an electrically operated latch. In its free position the bell crank lever is held in place as a short projection 58 strikes a stop screw 59. The bell crank lever is pivoted at 69, a relatively fixed point with respect to the solenoid 54. When the feeler closes the circuit as just described, the parts move from the full. line to the dot-and-dash line position of Fig. 5,. and a wire bail 6| is then so set as to be engage-- able by a hook 32 attached to a holder or carrier 33 which is in turn fixed to part of the lay structure, more preferably, as herein illustrated, to the lay sword 24.

A cam lever having a depending arm 34 pivoted at 35 and having a cam 66 extending in the opposite direction carries the bail 6| which is fixed in the end of a small pivoting member 61 hinged at 53 at the lower end of the arm. A spring 65' tends to retain the arm and cam in inoperative position. A curved extension 63 of this bail holder is in a position to be contacted by the lower bevelled end E6 of the depending arm 51 of the bell crank lever which is actuated by the solenoid 54.

The cam 68 engages at the lower surface of one of the lower parallel arms 25' of shuttle feeler 25 and functions to move the parts to the opposite extreme position, that'illustrated in Fig. 6, preparatory to transfer. These arms 25' are interconnected by a connecting strut H. It is to be understood that the solenoid is energized when the shuttle is at the opposite end of the loom from that at which transfer occurs and that the bail is set in position to be engaged by hook 62 as the lay is in a forward position, rearward motion thereof functioning through hook 62 to pull the arm E54 in a rearward direction as shown in Fig. 6 whereupon cam 86 moving about pivot 65 pushes upwardly on lug H to raise the shuttle feeler so that the spring toggle mechanism passes its dead center position and then tends to move and to hold the shuttle feeler in active position, simultaneously moving the latch finger 33 to the position it occupies preparatory to transfer. A stop 12 in the form of an adjustable screw passing through lug i3 is set to be contacted by a projecting end 14 of the shuttle feeler thereby to limit the movement of the parts as illustrated in Fig. 6.

Now referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the cutter mechanism which may preferably be of the Stafford type is supported on a bracket fixed at the end of the sleeve 13. This sleeve is very rigidly supported in the hopper stand, or other fixed part of the rigid framework of the loom and the supporting bracket comprises a plurality of members which afford a certain amount of adjustment for positioning the cutter and for determining its pathway. These supporting members include a top stand indicated by numeral 15 and comprising; a central hub portion clamped by set screws orthe like to or adjacent the end of the sleeve and from which project arms one of which is drilled; for reception of a bolt or screw passing into a, depending member 18, and the other arm of which is slotted for a similar bolt or screwthreaded into the same depending member, but providing a certain amount of adjustment as described in Patent No. 2,223,896. An angular slide frame having vertical portion 71 and a horizontal part "i8 is likewise bolted to the depending member 76, the connection between the two providing for a certain amount of vertical movement. This horizontal portion 18 is grooved to provide a guideway within which a sliding, cutter supporting. plate 19 is movable to and from the lay structure so that a cutter generally indicatedby humeral ail-and carried by thesplate 19 may be moved toandifroma position to engage and sever the filling at the shuttlealll inthe manner understood by those skilled Lin-the art.

According to the particular construction which isnovel in theinstan't case,.the shaft 45 supported in bearings within sleeve LIB serves .a dual functionin that it imparts movement to the cutter or slide assembly by a link 83.

Themovableblademembers of the cutter are actuatedbyanarmts from which projects av pin -BB-engageable .with a .swivelli-ng cam generally indicatedby nu'meraltfiandpivoted at 81. The cam 86 isnormally disposed ina predetermined horizontal position by: a Ilug projecting therefrom and extending withina notch 88 to engage upon the-end of an adjustable stop screw 89 locked imposition in theusual .manner. This cam has an-upwardly turned, portion 90 at its forward end anda downwardly turned cam surface 9| directed toward thereanof the loom. When thecutter is iniinaetive position, Fig. 3, thecam 99 .is in the pathway .of .the pin jflisothat upon movement of the parts incidentalto initiating transfer, the. cam functionsithroughthe pinand arm 84 to open the blades of the .cutter .all.as illustrated in Fig. 1.

After :passing the pivot .pointof the earn, the

swivel provides iorlifting the cam aboutlts pivot sothat upon return movement astransf er is actu- .-ally-.efiected, the ;-pin .85 then rides up the cam surface 91 at thebpposite end of the cam 86 therebytoclosethecutter blades and severthe vfilling after whiehfurthermovement of the parts to theirpriginal position merely tips the cam aboutits..pivot.aga.in as the pin =85 engages "the topmost portion'ofthecam at theendlfl.

The-link 83-.from.arm..82 to the .slidable cutter assembly isof special .type to beun'iversally pivoted ateachend to the arm and .to thecutter.

Spherical connections83 provide for free swivelling ofthe parts whichbecomesessential since thecutter s'lidesatan acute angle to the lay and toshaft 4'5, -while the.. plane ofmovement of arm 821s perpendicular thereto.

As above-described, the setting of the parts incidental-toeffecting transfer occurs during a rearward movement of the lay. .As .the'ilay .next

-movesv forwardly to complete transfer, the :con-

tact between hunter l3 and finger. 33 imparts the necessary motion to transfer arm I5 while another partiof .theflaystructure returns all other parts to .their initial and inactive position through itscontact withan adjustable contact .screw 92,IFig. .-1 lTI'hat causes thev cutter to move with layasitcu'ts and clampsthe "filling and the shuttlefeeler-and transfer l'a't'ch control parts to return toward their initial, positions. As soon .asthe spring toggle ipasses its center position it j hastens the return motion.

. Operation In operationofthe. device, it isto be assumed "that'the parts "are in position-as illustrated in :Fiigs: 3iand'fi. Upon sensing-nearexhaustion of fillingby the, feeler v53 the .circuit is closedso that solenoid .54 becomes "energized thereby pull- Ling upwardly on armature :55 to swing the bell crank lever comprising arms 56 andiilabout its pivot thereby to cam the'wire bail :6! upwardly to the ,dot-and dash line position 'of Fig. 5, this being effected -through the inclined interengayging surfaces of the end 10 of arm "57 and of the projectionfiflof the'holderforthe wire ball. This movement, just above described 'occursas' the lay is at about its forward position at beat-up and when the shuttle .is at'the "left'ghand end of the loom, or that end opposite the replenishing means. 7

Then upon the following rearward movement of the lay structure the .hookedien'd 62 of the projecting means attached "to-the lay structure which'engages bail 61 draws rearwardly onthat member to swing lever .54 about pivot '65 'so-that thecam 66 moves the shuttle feel'erZB about its pivot 26 and against theicompression of -the spring 28 at the toggle so :as "to set theishuttle feeler in the position illustrated in Fig. 6. ',Of course, just as soon as the spring toggle passes dead center positionwith respect to the pivots' 30 and 26, it. quickly moves thepartsthe remainder of the distance which they. maytraveLithat being governed by the stop 12 as his engaged by profjection .74, Fig. '6. There is a slight clearance 'between'the cam 66 and that 'partofthershuttle feeler which it engages when the parts have moved to extreme position in the direction of setting the parts in their operative position.

At the sametime that the shuttle feeler is moved .as .just above described, the transfer .latch is alsotmovedfromthe position of Fig.3 to that ofjFig. 1 'andthe'cutter likewise moved from the position of Fig. '3 to that illustrated in "the first figure. The-link 49, through the bell crank lever comprising arms 15'! and 28, functions at that time to push downwardly on link52 swinging the arm SBand the latch stand and transfer finger from the dot-and-dash line position of Fig. 'to a raised or elevated position in'which "the" notched end of the finger "33 is in position to be engaged by "the hunter 23 carried'by the lay mechanism upon the next forward'move- 'men'tthereof. At'that time the transfer latch *standand fingermove as a unit withthe-arm e'fl-since the spring 59 *main-tai-ns the-ledge 44in engagement with the'over-lying surface of the stand.

The cutter is "simultaneouslymovedforwardly to a position in which the blades thereof may engage the 'filling to -clamp-and cut it, through the interconnections comprising shaft tidand the depending arm 82 and link'-83. As that-cutteris -move'd forwardly, cam 86 functions as described to open the blades.

The parts are set to carry out the-transfer "function and that function will occur as the bun ter as contacts latch finger' 33 thereby pushing forwardly to swing the arm i8 about the *center or pivot'afforded by the'fixed sleeve 53 and to move the transfer arm and' har n-mer downwardly to project one-filling supply from the battery into the shuttle, thereby expeiling the carrier for-the-ex-pendedfilling. 'At-t'he same time, the shuttle feeler and-the cutter mechanism are moved toward their inactive positions as a part of the lay, or a hunter attached thereto, contacts the adjustable screw 92. Thus as the cutter is'moved forwardly as the lay advances, the arm't? swings shaft 45 so that the bell crank "lever carried at theoppos'it'e end thereof moves the shuttle feeler about its pivot 26 until the spring toggle which actually presented all the force holding the parts in position is moved to the opposite side of its dead center position whereupon it is then effective for quickly moving the elements to their initial or inactive positions, Figs. 3 and 5. It is to be understood that the hook 62 will have disengaged the bail 6| thereby permitting it to drop to its full line position, Fig. 5, and that as the shuttle feeler returns to inactive position, Fig. 5, the arm 64 and cam 66 will be returned to their initial position at which time the extension 69 will again engage behind the end 50 of the solenoid operated lever, the latter normally maintaining its initial or inactive position since the weight of the solenoid armature always tends to move it to the full line position, Figs. 5 and 6, in which the arm 58 engages the stop 59.

As the transfer is effected, the bunter 43 remains in engagement with the latch finger 33 until the lay actually starts to move rearwardly whereupon the parts then separate. It is also evident that the movement of the cutter and the shuttle feeler and all of the levers and links interconnecting these parts occurs first at a speed dependent upon the forward movement of the lay, and then when the spring toggle moves past its center position, at a more rapid speed. The arm 38, link 52 and the bell crank lever and link 49 therefore move independently of the transfer latch mechanism and the spring 40 becomes extended to a considerable extent at that time thereby to permit articulation of the arm and the transfer latch about the pivot between those members which may be considered a secondary pivot.

Cutting occurs at a position closely adjacent the most rearward extension of the cutter assembly or just as the lay contacting projecting screw 92 starts to move the slide 97 rearwardly at which time pin 85 rides up cam 9|. The cutter remains closed and retains the bound or clamped end of filling until it reaches its most forward position and, in fact, does not open until the next transfer movement is initiated.

In the event the shuttle is not properly boxed at the transfer, the tip 21 of the shuttle feeler engages the shuttle and as the lay moves forwardly, it pushes the feeler against the spring toggle to move the parts to their inactive position. The action is then one in which the bunter never engages latch finger 33 nor does the cutter engage the filling since these parts all move toward the front of the loom at a time earlier than The mechanism otherwise would be the case. becomes set for a second attempt to replenish as the filling feeler again the solenoid.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed it is to be understoodthat the.

gaging means for moving a filling supply into the shuttle upon need for replenishment, and a fill-1 ing feeler, the combination of an electrically operated latch means circuit with said feeler, a

completes the circuit to projecting means on said lay structure engageablewith said latch means when the latter is moved incidentally to starting the replenishing cycle, a bunter on said lay structure and a transfer latch pivoted on said supply engaging means and movable to and from a position to engage said bunter, and linkage between said electrically operated latch means and transfer latch for imparting movement of the one to the other.

2. In a filling replenishing loom having a shuttle, a lay, lay swords, a battery for supplies of filling to be transferred and a filling supply engaging means for moving a filling supply into the shuttle upon need for replenishment, and a filling feeler, the combination of an electrically o'perated latch means in circuit with said feeler, a projecting means on said lay structure engageable with said latch means when the latter is moved incidentally to starting the replenishing cycle, a bunter on said lay structure, a shuttle feeler and a transfer latch pivoted on said supply engaging means and movable to and from a position to engage said bunter, and linkage from said electrically operated latch to both said shuttle feeler and transfer latch for imparting movements of the electrically operated latch to both the shuttle feeler and transfer latch.

3. In a filling replenishingloom having a shuttle, a lay, lay swords, a battery for supplies of filling to be transferred and a filling supply engaging means for moving a filling supply into the shuttle upon need for replenishment, and a filling feeler, the combination of an electrically operated latch means in circuit with said feeler, a projecting means onsaid lay structure engageable with said latch means when the latter is moved incidentally to starting the replenishing cycle, a bunter on saidlay structure, a shuttle feeler and a transfer latch pivoted on said supply engaging means-and movable to and from a position to engage said bunter, a means interconnecting said electrically operated latch and shuttle feeler for moving the latter to a position in the path of the shuttle upon indication for transfer and a linkage between said shuttle feeler and transfer latch for moving the said latch simultaneously with the shuttle feeler.

4. In a filling replenishing loom having a shuttle, a lay, lay swords, a battery for supplies of filling to be transferred and a filling supply engaging means formoving a filling supply into the shuttle upon need for replenishment, and a fill ing feeler, the combination of an electrically operated latch means in circuit with said feeler, a projecting means onsaid lay structure engageable with said latch means when the latter is moved incidentally to starting the replenishing cycle, a bunter on said lay structure, a shuttlefeeler and a transfer latch pivoted on said supply engaging means and movable to and from a position to engage said bunter, a cam means effilling to be transferred and a filling supply engaging means for moving a filling supply into the shuttle upon need for replenishment,- and a filling feeler, the combination of a solenoid in circuit with said feeler, a latch movable by said structure positioned. to engage said latch when. it has been set by said energized solenoids, cam operable by said latch and hook. as the lay structure moves rearwardly, and a shuttle feeler and. transfer latch normally retained in an inactive position but movable to active position under the influence of said cam,

6.. In a filling replenishing loom having a shuttle, a lay, lay swords, a battery for supplies of filling to be transferred and a filling supply engaging means for moving a filling supply into theshuttle upon need for replenishment, and a filling feeler, the combination of a solenoid in circuit with said feeler, a latch movable by said solenoid when the latter is energized upon an indication for filling transfer, a. hook on said. lay structure positioned to engage said latch when it has been set by said energized solenoid, a cam operable by said latch and hook as the lay structure moves rearwardly, a shuttle feeler pivoted adjacent said cam, spring and toggle means connected to said shuttle feeler and functioning to hold it in either of its extreme positions, stops for limiting the movement of the shuttle feeler and an abutting surface on said shuttle feeler in alignment with said cam by which movements of the cam are imparted thereto.

7. In a filling replenishing" loom. having a shuttle, a lay, lay swords, a battery for supplies of filling to be transferred and a filling supply ongaging means for moving a filling supply into the shuttle upon need for replenishment, and a filling feeler, the combination of a solenoid in circuit with said feeler, a latch movable by said solenoid when the latter is energized upon an indication for filling transfer, a hook on said lay" structure positioned to engage said latch when it has been set by said energized solenoid, a cam operable by said latch and hook as the lay structure moves rearwardly, a shuttle feeler pivoted adjacent said cam, spring and toggle means connected to said shuttle feeler and functioning to hold it in either of its extreme positions, stops for limiting the movement of the shuttle feeler and an abutting surface on said shuttle feeler in alignment with said cam by which movements of the cam are imparted thereto, a transfer latch and link and lever means between said shuttle feeler and transfer latch for imparting movements of the one to the other.

8. In a filling replenishing loom having a shuttle, a lay, lay swords, a battery for supplies of filling to be transferred and a filling supply engaging means for moving a filling supply into the shuttle upon need for replenishment, a thread cutter and a filling feeler, the combination of a transfer latch pivoted to said filling supply engaging means, a shaft extending adjacent said battery and having at one end a lever one end of which is interconnected to said transfer latch and the other end of which is connected for movement upon an indication for transfer at the filling feeler, an arm fixed to the other end of said shaft and means connecting it to the thread cutter for actuating the latter simultaneously with the transfer latch.

9. In a filling replenishing loom having a shuttle, a lay, lay swords, a battery for supplies of filling to be transferred and a filling supply engaging means for moving a filling supply into the shuttle upon need for replenishment, a thread cutter and a filling feeler, the combination of an electrically operated latch means in c rcu t w th.

said feeler, a. projecting means on said lay structure engageable said latch means when the.- latter is moved incidentally to starting the replenishing cycle, a hunter on said lay structure and a. transfer latch pivoted on said supply en.- gaging. means and movable to and from a position. toengage said bunter, a shaft extending adjacent. said battery and having at one end a lever. one end. of which is interconnected to said transfer latch and the other end of which is connected for movement by said electrically operated latch means, an arm fixed to the other end of said shaft and means connecting it. to the thread cutter for actuating the latter simultaneously with the transfer latch.

10. In a filling replenishing loom having a shut.- tle, a lay, lay swords, a battery for supplies of filling to be transferred and. a filling supply engaging means for moving'a filling supply into the shuttle upon need for replenishment, a thread cutter and a filling feeler, the combination of a solenoid in circuit with said feeler, a latch movable by said solenoid when. the latter is energized upon an indication for filling transfer, a hook on.

saidlay structure positioned to engage said latch when it has been set by said energized solenoid, a cam operable by said latch and hook as the lay structure moves rearwardly, a shuttle feeler pivoted adjacent said cam and a transfer latch pivoted to said filling supply engaging means, a shaft extending along the length of said battery and adjacent the transfer latch and cutter, a lever at one end of said shaft and means connecting one end of said lever to said shuttle feeler and other means connecting the opposite end of said lever to the transfer latch and an arm at the other end of said shaft connected to the cutter for actuating it and the transfer latch simultaneously with the shuttle feeler.

11. For a filling replenishing loom a shuttle feeler comprising a pivoted, angularly shaped arm one end of which is adapted to engage a misplaced shuttle, stop means for limiting its movement in one direction, and means for retaining the feeler arm in its extreme positions which comprises a spring toggle means movable to each side of a dead center position, and a lay operated means I for moving the feeler from an inactive position to an active shuttle feeling position.

12. For a filling replenishing loom a shuttle feeler comprising a pivoted, angularly shaped arm one end of which is adapted to engage a misplaced shuttle, stop means for limiting its movement in one direction, means for retaining the arm away from a central or balanced position,

and means to move said shuttle feeler from an inactive toward its active position.

13. For a filling replenishing loom a pivoted shuttle feeler comprising angularly disposed members one of which, opposite the point of pivot. isadapted to contact a misplaced shuttle, and a means for movingsaid feeler from an inactive to an active position comprising a pivoted arm, a cam movable with said arm and engageable with said shuttle feeler, a movable latch means at the free end of said pivoted arm and lay carried means for engaging said latch means upon indication for transfer.

14. For a filling replenishing loom a pivoted shuttle feeler comprising angularly disposed members one of which, opposite the point of pivot, is adapted to contact a misplaced shuttle, and means for moving said. feeler from an inactive to an active position which comprises an arm pivoted adjacent the pivot for the shuttle feeler, a cam forming a part of said arm and engageable with said shuttle feeler, a movable latch means at the free end of said pivoted arm, lay carried means for engaging said latch means thereby to affect the arm and cam, and electrically operated means effective upon indication for transfer for causing interengagement between said latch means and lay carried means.

15. For a filling replenishing loom which includes a filling supply battery, a transfer means including a transfer hammer arm, a transfer latch and a thread cutter, a tubular bearing member upon which said transfer hammer arm is rotatably supported, a shaft carried internally of said tubular bearing member, arms fixed to each end of said shaft and means connecting one said arm to the transfer latch and the other to said cutter, and means to oscillate said shaft to set the transfer latch and cutter upon indication for transfer.

16. For a filling replenishing loom which includes a filling supply battery, a transfer means including a transfer hammer arm, a transfer latch and a thread cutter, a tubular bearing member fixed in said battery upon which said transfer hammer is rotatably supported, a cutter bracket fixed at one end of said tubular bearing member, a cutter supporting slide movable in said bracket and a cutter actuating cam associated therewith, an arm fixed at one end of said shaft and a link connecting that arm and the adjacent transfer latch, and a second arm fixed to the other end of said shaft and a link connecting it to said cutter supporting slide, and means to oscillate said shaft to set the transfer latch and cutter upon indication for transfer.

17. Mechanism as defined in claim 16, wherein the means for oscillating said shaft includes a shuttle feeler, a link from said feeler to an arm fixed to the shaft and means for actuating said shuttle feeler upon indication for transfer.

18. Mechanism as defined in claim 16, wherein the means for oscillating said shaft includes a shuttle feeler, an arm fixed to the shaft and a link therefrom to the shuttle feeler, and means for actuating said shuttle feeler comprising an electrically operated latch means, a cam and means carried by the lay and functioning through said electrically operated latch means to cause the cam to swing the shuttle feeler from an inactive to an active position.

19. Mechanism as defined in claim 15, wherein said transfer latch comprises a stand pivoted to an extension from said transfer hammer arm,

a latch finger projecting from said stand, a secondary pivot on said stand and an operating arm pivoted thereto, an abutment between said arm and latch stand limiting movement about said secondary pivot in one direction, and a spring connecting said arm and latch finger tending to maintain the parts in one position but permitting relative movement of the arm with respect to the stand and finger.

20. For a filling replenishing loom which includes a lay, a filling supply battery, a transfer means including a transfer hammer arm, a transfer latch and a thread cutter movable at an acute angle to the lay, a tubular bear ing member upon which said transfer hammer arm is rotatably supported, a shaft carried internally of said tubular bearing member, arms fixed to each end of said shaft and means connecting one said arm to the transfer latch and other means comprising a, link one end of which is universally pivoted to the other said arm and the other end of which is universally pivoted to the cutter, and means to oscillate said shaft to set the transfer latch and cutter upon indication for transfer.

21. For a loom having a lay and replenishing means including a thread cutter, means to sup port said cutter in slidable relationship to and from said lay the pathway of said cutter as it moves to and from cutting position making an acute angle to the plane of movement of said lay, and means for operating said cutter by moving it in its sliding pathway which comprises an arm movable in a plane substantially at right angles to the lay and a link for connecting said arm and cutter and universally pivotable connecting means at either end of said link, one of which connects it to the arm and the other to the cutter.

FLORENCE F. DONOGHUE. KENNETH E. SANDERSON. JOSEPH D. PIGOTT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,264,011 Wakefield Nov. 25, 1941 2,418,324 Stuer Apr. 1, 1947 2,515,045 Kielczewski et a1. July 11, 1950 2,525,148 Rinne et a1. Oct. 10, 1950 

